"It says so much what the sanctity of marriage can be.  When you say in the marriage vows, ‘for better or for worse, in sickness and in health,’ and you look around the room at the smiles on their faces and the physical condition of their bodies, you understand what it means."
                                            Rev. Roger Klinghagen

With many of their children and grandchildren filling the room, 16 couples at Ecumen’s Emmanuel Home in Litchfield, Minn., held hands and repeated wedding vows to each other, reaffirming the promises they made during their original wedding ceremonies.  Thanks to Amber Thompson at the Litchfield Independent Review for the photo of Viola and Charles Ohm above, the longest-married couple at the celebration. The Ohms were married April 2, 1936, near New Germany, Minn.

When Viola was asked what kept the couple together all these years, a friend in the crowd answered, "She can’t walk that fast, so she can’t catch a new one."  To which Viola quickly replied, "I wouldn’t want a new one."  She then shared advice with Amber:

"Working as a team is the key to a long, happy marriage."
                                          Viola Ohm

The Ohms lived on a 140-acre dairy farm for many years where they shared duties.  "I helped him making hay, shucking grain.  I had three boys and I had my house in tip-top shape.  We had chickens, we had cows, and when 9 o’clock rolls around you’re just happy to go to bed," said Viola.

"You’ve got to work together, don’t think you’re going to do it all and let the man out.  You’ve got to share 50/50.  When he needed something for his machinery, we went and bought it.  If I needed something in the house, we went and bought it, and that’s the way we worked together."

The celebration was topped off by our customer Ruby Dragt providing the top from her wedding cake, 73 years ago, to adorn the cake for the vow renewal ceremony.